Spring doorstop



June 16, 1964 F. H. FLAM s ams DOORSTOP Filed July 31, 1961 INVENTOR FE/EDEE/CK 1Y- .FZHM

United States Patent "cc 3,137,026 SPRING DOORSTOP Frederick H. Flam, Tarzana, Calif. (2978 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles 5, Calif.) Filed July 31, 1961, Ser. No. 127,920 7 Claims. (Cl. 1685) This invention relates to a spring doorstep.

The original spring doorstop was designed to yield for the purpose of avoiding damaging impact with feet, vacuum cleaners, mops, etc. The spring structure tended to distort at the base, especially if contacted at the base. In an attempt to overcome this problem, the spring was provided with an intermediate belly or bulge. Straight spring doorstops were obsoleted on the basis of a good sales promotion; but the stop didnt prove out. They still bent at their bases.

The object of the present invention is to provide the next best spring doorstop in an attempt to overcome the perplexing problem of skew spring doorstops.

To accomplish this objective, the base for the doorstop is shielded so that the spring cannot be contacted at its base, the inwardmost point of possible contact with the spring having circumferential clearance. A smooth base contour conforms to the flxed configuration of the spring, and the spring can never be sharply or abruptly bent.

This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objects which may be made more clearly apparent from a consideration of several embodiments of the invention. For this purpose, there are shown two forms in the drawing accompanying and forming part of the present specification, and which drawing, unless described as diagrammatic, or unless as otherwise indicated, is true scale. These forms will now be described in detail, illustrating the general principles of the invention; but it is to be understood that this detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is an enlarged axial sectional view of a doorstop incorporating the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the doorstop body;

and

FIGS. 3 and 4 are views similar to FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrating a modified form of the present invention.

The doorstop includes a body 11 and a spring 12 attached thereto.

The body, which may be made of cast metal or plastic, is generally cup shaped, having a generally cylindrical cavity 13, the cross-sectional area of which is greater than that of the spring 12.

Extending upwardly and outwardly from the bottom of the cavity and formed integrally with the body 11 is a mounting post 14 having threads or grooves 15 for engaging the end of the spring 12 The end of the post 14 is spaced inwardly from the opening of the cavity so that it is effectively shielded from contact.

The outer opening of the body cavity is bounded by aflange 16, the inner surface 17 of which forms an outwardly flaring continuation of the inner cylindrical portion of the cavity 13, and conforming to the configuration of the spring 12 as it is laterally flexed.

The body 11 also extends into a recess 18 in the wall behind a base molding strip 19. The body may have a 3,137,026 Patented June 16, 1964 length substantially. in excess of the nominal dimension of standard base molding strips. Half-inch molding strips are common. The flange 16 contacts the edges about the opening formed to receive the body 11.

The body, 11 has externally formed screw threads 29 capable of forming corresponding threads in the wall suitably to secure the body 11. To facilitate rotation of the body 11, the flange 16 may be non-circularly formed, as shown in FIG. 2.

In the form illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the body 11a provides a grooved or threaded socket 14a for connection to the spring 12 by peripheral rather than internal engagement therewith. The outer end of the socket 14a is, like the post 14 of the previous form, spaced inwardly of the opening of the body cavity 13a.

The cavity 13a of the body 11a flares outwardly without discontinuity from the grooved socket 14a similarly to provide a seat for the flexed spring 12.

In the present example, the flange 16a is circular, the body being fitted in a recess 18a. Removal and replacement is easily accomplished.

The inventor claims:

1. In combination: a body having a cavity opening at one end of the body; said cavity having an interior surface extending inwardly from said end opening; a resilient laterally flexible spring doorstop only partially occupying the cavity and so that the cavity opening at said one end and the surface along a substantial distance inwardly of said opening both extend in spaced exterior encompassing relationship to said spring doorstop when unflexed; and mounting means provided in the cavity for anchoring the inner end of said doorstop and engaging said doorstop only at a place spaced substantially inwardly of said opening so as to be effectively shielded within the cavity and whereby said doorstop is capable of substantial lateral flexure within the cavity; said doorstop being capable of substantial lateral flexure at the region of said opening and inwardly thereof whereby said spring doorstop stores a substantial amount of energy prior to engagement with said body adjacent the area of said opening.

2. The article as set forth in claim 1, in which said mounting means comprises a post extending in an out- Ward direction from the bottom of said cavity.

3. The article as set forth inclaim l, in which said mounting means comprises a recess formed in the bottom of the cavity.

'4. The combination as set forth in claim 1, in which said cavity flares outwardly to provide a smooth portion engageable with said spring doorstop when laterally flexed.

5. The combination as set forth in claim 2, in which said cavity flares outwardly to provide a smooth portion engageable with said spring doorstop when laterally flexed.

6. The combination as set forth in claim 3, in which said cavity flares outwardly to provide a smooth portion engageable with said spring door stop when laterally flexed.

7. In combination: a wall having an outwardly opening recess; a body fitted in the recess and having a flange overlying the edges of the recess; said body having a cavity having an opening surrounded by the flange; said cavity having an interior surface extending inwardly from said end opening; a resilient laterally flexible spring doorstop only partially occupying the cavity and so that the cavity opening at said one end and the surface along a 3 4 substantial distance inwardly of said opening both extend a substantial amount of energy prior to engagement with in spaced exterior encompassing relationshipto said spring said body adjacent the area of said opening.

doorstop when unflexed; and mounting means provided in the cavity for anchonng the mner end of said door- References Cited m the fik of thls paten stop and at a place spaced'substantially inwardly of said 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS opening so as to be effectively shielded within the cavity 2,462,174 Fisher Feb. 22, 1949 and whereby said doorstop is capable of substantial lat- 2,882,547 Bacon Apr. 21, 1959 eral flexure Within the cavity; said doorstop being capable of substantial lateral flexure at the region of said opening FOREPGITI PATENTS and inwardly thereof whereby said spring doorstop stores 10 866,795 Great Brltaln May 3, 1961 

1. IN COMBINATION: A BODY HAVING A CAVITY OPENING AT ONE END OF THE BODY; SAID CAVITY HAVING AN INTERIOR SURFACE EXTENDING INWARDLY FROM SAID END OPENING; A RESILIENT LATERALLY FLEXIBLE SPRING DOORSTOP ONLY PARTIALLY OCCUPYING THE CAVITY AND SO THAT THE CAVITY OPENING AT SAID ONE END AND THE SURFACE ALONG A SUBSTANTIAL DISTANCE INWARDLY OF SAID OPENING BOTH EXTEND IN SPACED EXTERIOR ENCOMPASSING RELATIONSHIP TO SAID SPRING DOORSTOP WHEN UNFLEXED; AND MOUNTING MEANS PROVIDED IN THE CAVITY FOR ANCHORING THE INNER END OF SAID DOORSTOP AND ENGAGING SAID DOORSTOP 